"I knew I saved up money for something..." I mumbled to myself, dialing the number that was given to me on a scrap of paper from Zayn. Louis apparently had gotten a new phone number since all of his calls were to American numbers, and didn't want to pay long-distance.

I, however, was willing to do that.

The phone rang and rang, and I waas startled at the greeting that came through.

"What?" a man snarled, sounding less than happy.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I think I have the wrong number-" I started, immediately afraid that he would track my number and beat me up for being the cause of his apparent anger.

"Wait, I'd recognize that voice anywhere... Em?" a softer, more familiar voice sounded.

"Yeah, hi Lou." I smiled a bit, forgetting how friendly his voice always was.

"My apologies, I was in the middle of something. Long time no chat, yeah?" I heard a smile in his voice.

"I didn't mean to bother you, I can go-"

"No no! I wouldn't pass up a phonecall from my favorite person!" a voice sounded in the background, cutting him off.

"Alright alright, second favorite person. The girlfriend feels a bit left out." he chuckled. I laughed along, though I didn't find the humor in it.

My little "chat" turned into a 5-hour call, catching up and telling ridiculous stories. I giggled at some of the American slang he had picked up and he asked how everyone at home was holding up. The only thing that stopped us from talking even more was the same voice calling out in the background.

"I'll be right there, don't stay up for me. Sorry Em, I'm being summoned to bed."

"Oh? She's been waiting for five hours, you better hurry." I teased.

"No no, it's not like that. You know I'm waiting for marriage. We just cuddle." he defended himself.

"Right. Sleep tight Lou."

"You too, if you're planning on going to bed. It's gotta be like 4 a.m. over there!"

"4:13, but nice guess. Talk to you soon."

"You too! Bye."

I hung up and sunk back into the padding of my couch. The last thoughts of the night were wonders of just how high my phone bill would be this month.

~~

A few short months later, I stood in front of my mirror, adjusting the square cap on my head. I smoothed out my gown before answering the sudden knock at the door.

So, this is it.

I threw my arms around the shaggy-haired boy who I had come to know as one of my best friends, nearly squeezing the life out of him.

"We haven't even crossed the platform yet, and you're already suffocating me?" he joked, hugging me back. I felt a lump where his chest was supposed to be, and pulled back in confusion.

"What?"

"Did you grow a uni-boob overnight?" I asked, pointing at the shape. He chuckled and reached in his gown only to pull out a pack of sunflower seeds.

"That won't be a short graduation. It'll be dinner time before we finish!"

When we arrived, the place was absolutely filled with people. We greeted our family and friends who came to support us, and wasted no time in getting to our assigned seats.

Liam and I had close last names, and there were 2 people in between us. We would often look at each other as the people walked on and on, counting down to us. A feeling of anxiety was released in my stomach when a staff member summoned our row to stand up and wait for our names to be called. There were two people in front of me, and I looked back at Liam. He looked as nervous as I did, but gave me a thumbs up. I hesitated when I heard my name announced over the speaker, but calmed down as I heard my support team hoot and holler some nicknames or inside jokes we had. I couldn't stop the wide smile from appearing as I shook the hand of the man in charge, accepting my diploma and raising it above my head in victory as I walked off stage.

That's it. I'm done.

An overwhelming feeling of both fear and independence washed over me, and I wanted to scream out of pure excitement. But, containing myself, I walked into the back room and gathered around the fraction of my friends who had already walked off the stage. They all welcomed me with a hug and I noticed that I wasn't the only one with butterflies crawling out of my ears.

"Liam should be coming soon, he was only three behind me!" I explained quickly, waiting for him to come in. When he entered, we all silently rejoiced and let him join in the group hug. Unfortunately, we had to be quiet because the room wasn't soundproof, and we wouldn't dare be a disturbance to the rest of the ceremony, but two hours later, shouts of glory and pride rung throughout campus.

I ran into the comforting arms of Liam Payne, suddenly being picked up and spun around. I shrieked with laughter and his hearty guffaws were made known. I don't know how long we were hugging and spinning, but a voice broke up our reunion.

"Have you quite finished?"

I jumped, turning around to meet our party pooper. In absolute disbelief, my jaw dropped, and my hands flew to my face in shock.

"I didn't fly some hours just to get some serious jetlag, you know."

"LOUIS!" I screamed, still not believing that he was actually here. I grabbed on to him like it was the last time I would see him, squeals still emitting from inside of me. Emotions got the best of me, and I felt afraid to let him go. Like if I did, he would fly back to America.

"Let me see your face! It's been two years and I want to see your face!" he chuckled, pulling away from my death grasp.

It was then I realized that I had been crying, but only out of utter joy and love for my best friend that it was really the only way to express it.

"Don't cry, it's just silly old me." he smiled, wiping the tears off my face before inspecting me.

"And after I didn't think you could get any prettier, you went and proved me wrong." he pulled me in for another bear hug.

I had completely forgotten that my grandparents and other friends were still waiting to congratulate me, until they politely asked if they could "steal me away, but only for a second".

It was an emotional reunion, but I felt myself trying to stay by Lou's side. I introduced my new college friends to my old highschool friends and grandparents, but I wished nothing more than to just go celebrate with everyone in a comfortable environment.

My grandma slipped me an envelope in the midst of the excitement, explaining how they didn't want to be "two old geezers interrupting" and kissed me on the cheek before leaving.

"Well, I'd offer to go out to an awfully expensive place to eat, but I'm sweating up a storm in this dumb thing." a friend of mine named Sophia commented.

"How about we all go to my place? Everyone's invited!" Liam suggested, and we all nodded in agreement.

"I'll be there, but not until a little later. Natalie said she wasn't feeling well, so I promised I would drop her off back at the hotel." he explained.

"You're not staying at your parents?"

"They offered, but we don't want to be a bother to them." I knew by "we" he was referring to Natalie, because Louis loved his parents and wouldn't pass up home for the world.

"Alright mate. You need directions?" Liam asked.

"I have a GPS. Just the address is great." while they were exchanging information, everyone waved their goodbyes, and drove back to their house to change.

~~

That night was the last I saw of a lot of those people. Within a year, Zayn proposed to Suzie, and she said yes. Harry and Jen weren't engaged, but their relationship was still going just fine. Louis and Natalie had broken up, because by the time he finished school, he was eager to make it home, while she wanted to stay in America. It was too big of a problem to ignore, and they ended on what I believe were good terms.

I was still in contact with Jen and Harry, not so much with Zayn and Suzie, but we would email from time to time. Liam and I were still quite close, and when Louis finished school and moved back, we became a very close trio of friends.

I was just on my way out the door to meet up with them one day when my phone buzzed in my pocket. I picked up, delighted to hear my grandmother's voice. But, it wasn't the same happy tone when she started to talk.

"Em, your grandfather had a heart attack. He's in the hospital now."

"Oh my gosh, is he ok?" I choked, tears threatening to fall down my face.

"He's still alive, but the doctor is saying that it doesn't look good."

Without hesitation, I got directions and drove over as fast as I could, completely forgetting about Louis and Liam. Everything was a blur- arriving, asking the receptionist where his room was, actually getting to the room, and so on. All I knew is that the second I saw my grandfather in the hospital bed, I couldn't control myself.

His muscles were weak, but he got my attention and motioned for me to hug him. I did, but gently, in fears of making it worse.

"I love you, Grandpa. Everything's going to be alright." I tried to comfort myself with those words, but it was obvious to all three of us that it was false assurance.

I stayed with him and my grandmother for the rest of the day, and fell asleep in one of the chairs by his bed. The doctors offered me a cot in a room close by along with my grandma, but I refused to leave.

The next morning, I actually checked my phone to see the missed calls and messaged from both Liam and Louis. I called them both back, letting them know where I was and apologizing for not showing. They both understood and sent me their deepest sympathies. What surprised me, though, was that an hour later, they both showed up at the hospital room door. We all hugged, and they told me the same words I repeated to my grandpa the previous night. It comforted me either way, and I thanked them for coming.

My grandfather had met both of them, and smiled when he saw them appear in the room. He had gained the strength to utter out words, and mumbled a "hi boys" upon seeing them.

The boys shook his hand, even though his grip wasn't the strong, firm one they were used to. We all sat in the room, talking to him to keep him company. We tried to tell him stories so he didn't have to wear himself out by talking, and he sat there with a smile on his face the whole time.

A few hours later, Liam had to leave, and he even gave my grandfather a hug before going, knowing that it may be the last time he would see him. It pained me to think that, but I wouldn't let myself cry in front of my grandpa, he needed to be happy.

A while later, Louis excused himself to go use the bathroom, and while he did, my grandpa interrupted me.

"Em."

"What, Grandpa?"

"I know I've teased you about boys your whole life. But you know that I only want the best for you." his words were muffled by an oxygen mask, but I could hear him.

"I know, Grandpa. I love you for that." I smiled.

"You need to marry that boy." he looked at me, with all seriousness.

"Who? Louis?"

"Yes. I've never seen such humility in a boy. He cares for you nearly as much as I do, and loves you."

"I know, he does love and care for me. But we are best friends, he doesn't love me in the way you're thinking."

"Your grandmother and I have been best friends since we were teenagers, and I married her not only because I love and care for her, but because she is my best friend. I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her, and I have." he looked over to where she was sitting, letting me piece the rest together. I knew that no matter what excuse I used, he would always tell me why it doesn't matter.

"Ok Grandpa. I will."

"Good. You two need each other." he smiled, and closed his eyes.

"Get some rest Grandpa. I love you." I kissed his forehead before turning around. The whole time, my grandma stayed silent, smiling at nothing in particular. She got up and shuffled over to where he was, also kissing him on the forehead, and taking hold on his hand. She squeezed it, and I saw that he squeezed her hand in return.

"I love you, dear."

"I love you, darling."

I teared up at the sight, amazed at how their love has lasted. I excused myself and stepped out into the hallway, sitting on a nearby bench with my head in my hands. I let tears fall down my face, and didn't bother to look up when I felt arms hug me tight.

I don't know how long we sat there, but I didn't care either. Was my grandfather right? Should I really marry Louis? I mean, everything he said was accurate. Without Louis, my life would be a wreck. A woman's voice interrupted my thoughts and our embrace.

"Sorry, but are you Emerson Parks?" the doctor asked. I nodded, slowly sitting up from leaning against Louis.

"Your grandfather has just passed away. My deepest apologies, I understand that he was the father figure in your life." she looked genuinely sad with me, and I just nodded some more as I put my head down, somehow still surprised at the fact that he was gone. I should've known better than to get my hopes up.

"I'm sorry, dear. I'll give you your privacy." she patted my shoulder before stepping into another room, the door clicking shut behind her.

"I... I'm just gonna..." I motioned towards the door of his room.

"I'll wait out here."

When I walked in, I saw my grandmother's face had lost it's spirit, and tears had stained her face as well. I went over to give her a hug, and we cried together. It wasn't long, though, before she pulled away and lifted her hands to my face.

"Your grandfather wouldn't want us to be crying over him. Cheer up, honey. He lived a good life and would want you to continue on with only the best memories of him." she smiled sadly.

"I can't, it's too much to just 'cheer up' after he's gone." I sobbed, wiping my eyes.

"I'm going to stay in here a little while longer. I think it's best you get some air." she suggested, but I knew this was an invitation to let her be alone. I nodded and kissed my grandfather one last time before leaving.

I saw Louis sitting on the bench, head in his hands. He looked up when he heard the door shut, and stood up to come over and hug me. I started crying again, and based on his sniffles and quick breaths, so was he.

"I'm so sorry Em. I know you loved him." he calmed me down after a few minutes.

"I always knew there would be a day. I just never expected it to happen."

I wasn't sobbing anymore, just letting a few stray tears fall. I sighed, just now acknowledging Louis rubbing my back in comfort and sympathy. I knew that Louis came to know and love him as well, and that he was also heartbroken at this news.

So there we stood.